It is helpful to gather as a group, establish where you all want to end up, and agree on a common direction and goals. Clear expectations and roles for each member should also be expressed, negotiated and agreed upon. Teams benefit from establishing ground rules for meetings, communication and decision making.

The bottom line is that your organization should go about planning, setting expectations and priorities in a way that works for the team. I’ve seen this type of planning process energize and engage employees — and ignite productivity.